Ron Paul

1) We should continue in this war until Iraq is a stable democracy

No.

Ron Paul feels the war was "sold" on the basis of false information and that the U.S. must pull its troops out of Iraq. He says military victory is unattainable and that congress should repeal the authority given to the president in its 2002 vote for authorization. Paul argues for a non-interventionist but defensive foreign policy and that America should only go to war with a formal, congressional declaration of war.

Ron Paul believes that global warming has been with us for a long time though he is somewhat skeptical that it is becoming an immanent crisis. Because he does not support any piece of legislation not specifically authorized by the Constitution, Paul votes against most bills that involve government spending or expanded government initiatives; thus he does not seek legislation to combat the global warming. Instead, he advocates reducing emissions, halting subsidies to oil companies, and altering a war-for-oil foreign policy that in itself contributes to global warming.

3) The federal government should provide a universal health care system

No.

Ron Paul does not advocate a universal health care system, as that would run counter to his belief in a limited government. His solutions to the health insurance problem involve tax credits for health insurance premiums, tax credits for children for medical expenses not covered by insurance and waiver of social security payments for primary care givers or those with serious illnesses. He advocates medical savings accounts and "negative outcome insurance" that guarantees fair compensation for those harmed by medical malpractice.

4) Same-sex marriage should be banned
Ron Paul supports the definition of marriage as between a man and a women but does not believe in a federal definition of marriage or a constitutional amendment controlling marriage. He does not believe states should have to recognize a same-sex marriage law by other states.

5) The civil law should be reformed so that lawsuits are less common and damage verdicts against individuals and businesses are lower

No.

Paul believes that the Constitution "strictly limits the role of the federal government in dealing with civil liability matters" and reserves "jurisdiction over matters of civil tort" . . . to state legislatures. As such, he opposes tort reform even in medical cases. "Federal legislation prohibiting state tort law reform cannot be the answer, he says, proposing contractual arrangements between patients and doctors allowing specified damage clauses and agreeing on arbitration panels instead.

Ron Paul believe that the "US Constitution does not allow our government to send taxpayer money overseas as foreign aid," Moreover, he says, "government-to-government assistance seldom helps those really in need. First, because it comes from governments it usually has political strings attached to it, and as such is really a cover for political interventionism. Also, "when a government gives aid to another government there are so many layers of middlemen involved that by the time the actual aid trickles down to those in need it is a small fraction of the original amount given."

Paul regularly votes against farm subsidies despite the fact that his congressional district is largely agricultural. He advocates limited government and votes only for those measures derived from federal powers explicitly authorized by the constitution. He sees farm subsidies, like most federal programs designed to solve social and economic problems, as benefiting the well-connected rather than the people they were designed to help.

9) Before the social security system runs out of money, we should increase social security taxes to maintain benefits

Ron Paul believes that programs such as social security and Medicare should be phased out and takes pride that he has never voted for a tax increase. Despite his reservations about social security, Paul acknowledges that many Americans depend on it, and introduced a bill in 2004 requiring that its benefits be disbursed only to American citizens. He opposes moving social security payroll funds into personal retirement accounts but approves cutting social security taxes and allowing workers to invest the money themselves. He opposes any taxing of social security benefits.

10) The federal government should be able to hold a suspected terrorist indefinitely without charging them with a crime

Ron Paul guarantees that he would never abuse habeas corpus, or the right of detainees to challenge the legality of their confinement and to demand that they either be charged with a crime or released.

Ron Paul recognizes the harm that drug abuse causes society but also recognizes that government drug policy has been ineffective, has driven up drug prices, and has led to frightening abuses of the Bill of Rights. He considers drug addiction to be a medical problem and supports alternatives to the War on Drugs. In any case, drug problems should be handled at the state or personal level.

12) America should take stronger and more consistent measures against the presence of illegal immigrants in the United States

Yes.

Ron Paul sets the highest priority on securing our borders and coastlines as well as on enforcing visa rules. He advises against amnesty or "welfare" for illegal immigrants and even councils against birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants. Legal immigrants from all countries should face the same rules and waiting periods, he said. Paul voted for the Secure Fence Act (2006).